Fears over mass coronavirus testing in schools

Health chiefs have been warned they risk traumatising a generation of children if they begin mass coronavirus testing in schools.
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Screening for COVID-19 is expected to increase as different sections of the economy and wider society begin to reopen after months of lockdown.

But bosses behind the scheme have been urged to consider the impact such a regime could have if it was extended to include schools, regardless of whether or not an outbreak was suspected.

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“I think we should be quite conservative about this,” said Heather Smith, a former doctor and member of Durham County Council.

A laboratory technician wearing full PPE cleans a test tube containing a live sample taken from people tested for the novel coronavirus. Photo by Andrew Milligan / POOL / AFPA laboratory technician wearing full PPE cleans a test tube containing a live sample taken from people tested for the novel coronavirus. Photo by Andrew Milligan / POOL / AFP
A laboratory technician wearing full PPE cleans a test tube containing a live sample taken from people tested for the novel coronavirus. Photo by Andrew Milligan / POOL / AFP

“Currently, testing for COVID is quite an invasive procedure for a young child to experience.

“Throat swabs and nose swabs are not easy to do in young children and these things shouldn’t be done without a parent present.

“To do it unless there’s a good clinical indication on a widespread basis would, I think, be unjustified currently.

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“I think we should think hard about exposing young children to things which might potentially traumatise them.”

Coun Smith was speaking at a meeting of the council’s Adults, Wellbeing and Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee, which was held by video link and broadcast via YouTube.

Testing for COVID-19 currently involves a swab sample taken from ‘deep inside’ the back of the throat and then the nose.

So far, national testing policies have focussed on key workers and care homes, with more widespread screening, including of those without symptoms, mainly used as part of efforts to estimate the virus’s wider infection rates.

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Coun Owen Temple asked health bosses at the meeting whether government or council plans were likely to extend this into schools.

“I think there will be a need and a drive for more testing,” said Amanda Healy, the council’s director of public health.

“We’ve done some precautionary testing, which is a step in that direction, but we will be waiting for national guidance on whether testing in, say schools, would become more widespread.

“At present, if we have confirmed cases we will be contact tracing and asking for anyone else with symptoms to be tested.

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“But I think there may be room for further testing and that is being discussed regionally and nationally.”

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